Electrical switch.



PATENTBD JAN. 2a, 1906.

J. I. GEORGE. ELECTRICAL SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED 00:. 7.1904.

INVENTOXl- M A TTORNE Y.

' WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH F.-,GEORGE, OF NEW YOR K, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO EMPIRE ELECTRIC STAGE LIGHTING COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

Application filed October 7, 1904. Serial No. 227.580.

To all whom it .may concern:

Beit known that L-Josnrn FRANK GEORGE, a citizen of .the United States,residing in the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electrical Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement is intended more especially for use in connection with the lighting of the stage and other parts of a theater, and

or portions of a person or their dresses with the live parts whichare exposed by the opening of the ordinary switches.

Myv improved construction insures, first, the' complete inclosure of the working parts when the switch is closed, and, second 1t defends the live parts against any accidental contact of persons or clothing, even when the switch is open. only by s ecially-adapted blades carried on the inner ace of a hinged door which consti tutes the front.

The following is a description of .what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. They represent the switch in the upright position, in which it is usually employed.

Figure 1 is a front elevation with the switch open before the partition is applied. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 in-Fig'. 1 with the partition applied in position to serve, the strong lines showingthe switch closed and the dotted lines showing it nearl closed. Fig. 3 is a face view, and Fig. 4 an e ge view, of one of the parts detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear. i

A is a casing of malleable cast-iron or other suitable material equipped on the back for The contacts can be touched I easy and strong engagement with the wall of the building. 4

A A- are brackets on the inner face, adapted to receive the partition to be presently described and tapped to receive fasteningscrews therefor.

B is a door adapted to open and close the entire front of the casing. It is hinged thereto at the lower edge O. The door carries a plateB, of vulcanized fiber or other suitable insulating material.

D D are contact-pieces of copper secured on this plate B, each having two blades D D lying in planes at right angles to the general plane of the door.

E is a plain piece of hard rubber, vulcanized fiber, compressed mica, or other suitable strong insulating material secured to. the

brackets A by screws F. This partition E has slots e, four in number, corresponding in y a position to the blades D and of a size on ttle more than sufiicient to allow the blades to enter and be withdrawn as the door is opened and closed. Lifting and closing the door thrusts the several bladeseach rearward through its proper slot e. Opening thev door withdraws these blades again. When the door'is open, the partition E protects the live parts, which are within, leaving only the narrow slots e open. The interior parts, as shown, are of the ordinary long-approved construction;

G is a plate of insulating material supporting ordinary electrical connections comprlsing the four ordinary elastic contacts H H H H. These stationary contacts must be arranged a proper distance apart and properly conditioned to make and break contact withthe blades D as the door is closed and opened.

The partition E is easily displaced slinply removing the screws F whenever it is desired toobtain access to the parts withinthe casing. When it is in place, it is a reliable defense against short-circuiting by any accldental contacts. r i

In the efiort to attain other ends there have been approximations to my construction; but none, so far as I am aware, have pro osed to defend the terminals by a casing witfi a removable shield for the knives to strike through held up by the casing, so that the whole bottom of the interior is available for wires and the like. My construction door B is gage'd by striking the casing 'A, so that the knives or blades cannot be pressed ported on the brackets A in the interior of parting from the principle or sacrificing the leaves the whole interior unobstructed. The

too deeply into the contacts or terminals H, and my slotted shield-plate E by being sup the casing leaves the whole bottom or, more properly, the whole back of the interior of the casing to be utilized. The whole interior is easy of access when re uired.

Modifications may e made without de- 1. In an electric switch, a pair of separated. contacts inclosed in a protecting-case, and a partition having narrow openings, in combinatlon with a hinged cover carrying movable contacts arranged to be thrust through such in a protecting-case, and a partition having narrow openings, in combination with a cover carrying movable contacts arranged to the thrust through such openings adapted for joint operation, substantially as herein speci- 3. In an electric switch, a pair of separated contacts inclosed in a protecting-case, and a partition having narrow openings, in combination with a,cover carrying movable contacts arranged to be thrust through such openings and with removable fastenings' F allowing the easy removal of such partition at will, all adapted for joint operation substantially as herein specified.

In: testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH F. ononon Witnesses:

' M. R. RAYNoR,

THOMAS DREW STETsoN. 

